Killarney & Southwest
Located in the South West of Ireland in the County of Kerry
- Ireland's premier visitor destination. Killarney offers so
much to visitors with plenty to see and do all year round. It
sprang into prominence when 18th century tourists were drawn
to its wonderful setting under the shadow of Ireland’s
highest mountains and beside its scenic lakes. Killarney is
also the starting point of the drive around the Iveragh peninsula,
a dramatically scenic route, commonly known as the Ring of Kerry.
The complete route is 100 miles long but your journey will be
broken by many stops to admire the scenic beauty of the area
that changes dramatically around every corner.
Local Places of Interest and Activities
Muckross
House and Gardens — Situated close to the shores
of Muckross Lake, amidst the beautiul scenery of Killarney National
Park. Muckross House was built for Henry Arthur Herbert and
his wife. William Burn, the well-known Scottish architect, was
the designer. Building commenced in 1839 and was completed in
1843. Today the principal rooms are furnished in period style
and portray the elegant lifestyle of the 19th century landowning
class. While in the basement, one can imagine the busy bustle
of the servants as they went about their daily chores. The Gardens
are spectacularly adorned with the red and pink flowers of mature
Rhododendrons. Other garden features include a Sunken Garden,
a Rock Garden and a Stream Garden. An Arboretum, containing
many trees from the Southern Hemisphere, was established here
in 1972.
Gap
of Dunloe — For over 200 years visitors to Killarney
have been taking 'The Gap Tour'. Without doubt it is a 'classic'
in every sense. Travel by coach to Kate Kearney´s Cottage
and change there to jaunting car or pony for the journey through
the Gap of Dunloe, a magnificent glaciated valley with high
cliffs and isolated lakes.
Ross
Castle — Built in the 15th century on the shore
of Killarney's Lower lake by O' Donoghue Mór. In 1652
Ross fell to the English General General Ludlow. The castle
was used as a military barracks in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Recently the building has been restored and now open to the
public.
Ladies
View — The most famous and photographed view
of Killarney is to be seen at Ladies' View approximately 11
miles from Killarney town, on the N71 to Kenmare. From here
there is a marvellous view of the Killarney Valley. A little
further on is another parking area offering spectacular views
of the Upper Lake and its islands. Corrán Tuathail, Ireland's
highest peak, and the McGillycuddy Reeks (mountains) tower over
this most memorable scene.
Tours to take from Killarney
Ring of Kerry
Stretching
out into the Atlantic Ocean, the Iveragh Peninsula has a backbone
of mighty mountains. Every environment is here, from the snow-capped
Corrán Tuathail, Ireland´s loftiest peak, through
woodland and blanket bog, to the sandy beaches of the coast.
The warm waters of the Gulf Stream ensure a mild climate all
the year round. Sub-tropical plants grow quite happily here
- adding marvellous splashes of colour to the countryside.
This
is the setting for Ireland´s greatest tour, The Ring of
Kerry. The 110-mile (176k) circuit takes in Killorglin, Glenbeigh,
Caherciveen, Waterville, Sneem, Kenmare, and Killarney. Killorglin,
the home of the legendary Puck Fair, straddles the Laune, an
excellent salmon-fishing river. The village of Glenbeigh is
hugely popular in summer because of the glorious beach at Rossbeigh
and the links course at Dooks. At Caherciveen you can visit
the birthplace of the great justice-seeker and parliamentarian
Daniel O´Connell (1775-1847). The Liberator, as he was
known, eventually settled near the beautiful secluded beaches
of Derrynane. In this century, Charlie Chaplin of silent screen
fame was a regular visitor to Waterville. Sneem, possibly Ireland´s
most colourful village, has won national awards for its beauty
and neatness. George Bernard Shaw did much of his playwriting
while staying at the nearby Parknasilla Hotel. While much of
the coach traffic takes the direct route from Sneem to Moll´s
Gap, it is worth going the extra miles to visit the town of
Kenmare with its delightful shops and excellent restaurants.
If you travel the Ring anti-clockwise, as most traffic tends
to do, then spectacular views await you as you head from Moll´s
Gap down into the Killarney Valley.
Dingle Peninsula
The
Dingle Peninsula is widely regarded as having some of the most
dramatic scenery in Ireland. Within its small compass it has
many interesting antiquities, historic sites, a large number
of ancient stone monuments and varied mountain scenery than
any other part of Ireland. The combination of rugged mountains,
craggy cliffs and long sandy 
beaches
brought David Lean here to film 'Ryan's Daughter' in 1970. More
recently, the Tom Cruise film 'Far and Away' was made in the
Slea Head area. Dingle town is also an important commercial
fishing port, built around an enclosed harbour and has many
fine restaurants and craft shops.
Ardfert
Cathedral — Situated 8 km (5 miles) north west
of Tralee on the Ballyheigue Road. It owes its origin to Saint
Brendan, who founded a monastry there in the 6th Century. Extensive
ruins of the ancient Cathedral and Abbey bear ample testimony
to its past.
Banna Strand — for the spectacular
view over Tralee Bay, and its association with Sir Roger Casement,
to whom there's a monument. In April 1916, on the eve of the
Easter Rising, Casement was captured by local police as he attempted
to land at Banna Strand from a German submarine. He was tried
and executed for high treason in 1916, and his body was returned
from England to Ireland in 1965 to be reinterred with full military
honours . You can carry on round the cliffs of Kerry Head for
more great vistas - south over Tralee Bay, north across the
mouth of the Shannon.
Foynes
Flying Boat Museum — From 1939 to 1945 Foynes,
was the centre of the aviation world, for air traffic between
the United States and Europe. The Foynes Museum recalls this
era with a comprehensive range of exhibits and graphic illustrations.
The museum features the original Terminal Building, Radio and
Weather Room (complete with transmitters, receivers and Morse
code equipment). The exhibits feature an introduction to the
first transatlantic passenger service and Foynes during the
war years. Irish Coffee was invented in Foynes. Chef Joe Sheridan
made the first in 1942 to warm up some damp and miserable passengers.
Since then Irish Coffee has become one the most popular welcoming
drinks in the world.
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